Fastener-applying implement



May 15, 1951 c. M. I INDSTROM FASTENER-APPLYING IMPLEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Nov. 16, 1946 lz arls 1% May 15, 1951 c. M. LINDsTRoM FAsTENER-APPLYING IMPLEMENT Original Filed Nov. 16, 1946 2 sheets-Shes1L 2 @Moggi A fn enlfor ChmlesMLndsiTom Patented May 15, 1951 FASTENER-APPLYING IMPLEMENT Charles M. Lindstrom, Westerly, R. I., assignor to Bostitch, Inc., Stonington, Conn., a corporation of Rhode Island Original application November 16, 1946, Serial No. 710,390. Divided and this application November 12, 1949, Serial No. 126,761

9 Claims.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 710,390 led November 16, 1946, and issued as U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,524,061 on October 3, 1950. It relates to improvements in fastener-applying implements and particularly to hammer-tackers, so-called, adapted to drive double-pointed tacks, staples and similar fasteners for attaching labels, tags and the like to shipping cases, fastening carpets to floors and upholstery to furniture, nailing roofing and siding to buildings, and for many other similar purposes.

One object of the invention is to provide an implement of the type indicated which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, convenient in use, and especially eicient in performing its intended functions.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated constructed substantially entirely of sheet-metal parts assembled without pins or screws except for a single pivot employed for connecting the operating handle with the magazine-arm of the implement.

Another object is to provide cushioning means in the head of the implement for absorbing the shock of the impact of the blow against the work in driving the fasteners thereinto.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the implement, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a fastenereapplying implement embodying the improvements of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a. longitudinal sectional View of the implement illustrating its operating elements in the same position as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the implement showing its operating elements in position during the driving of a fastener into the Work;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the implement shown with the upper wall of its head partly broken away to illustrate certain parts therein;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the fore part of the implement taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional plan view at the fore-part of the magazine taken on line 6-5 of Fig. 5.

Fastener-applying implements of the hammertacker type are used very generally for attaching tags, labels and the like to articles of commerce and for fastening many other objects in place, such as shingles and siding on buildings, tacking upholstery fabrics to furniture, and fastening carpets to floors. Such implements are swung in the manner of an ordinary hammer with the driving mechanism for the fasteners actuated by impact of a movable part of the implement with the work in which the fastener is to be driven. The present invention provides improvements in this type of implement including a novel construction of its several elements from sheet-metal formed into shape in. dies and comprising shock-absorbing means in its head.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l illustrates the implement as comprising a handle-member 2 constructed entirely of sheet-metal shaped into hollow form in suitable dies and formed with a weighted head 3 at the forward end and a fingergrip 4 at its rearward end. Pivoted ntermediate the ends of the handle-member 2 within the sides thereof is a magazine-arm for containing the fasteners, also constructed from sheet-metal in hollow form as shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 5. The magazine-arm 5 may be struck up from a strip of sheet-stock folded to provide opposite parallel side walls 6 connected by a bottom wall 1. At the rearward end of the magazine-arm 5 the side walls 6 are extended upwardly in hinge-ears I3 pierced with holes I 4 for receiving a pivot-bolt I5 to hingedly connect the arm to the handlemember 2, see Fig. 4. Preferably, the hinge-ears I 3 are punched or swaged outwardly around the holes I4 to form projecting cylindrical flanges I6 providing extended bearing hubs for receiving a cylindrical bushing 26 through which the bolt I5 extends. The bolt I5 is inserted through punched holes in the side walls 2| of the handle-member 2 and a nut 22 onthe threaded end of the bolt is set up to bind said walls against the ends of the bushing 20.

At the forward end of the magazine-arm 5 the metal of the side walls 6 is extended upwardly in vertical strips 23 which have rearwardlyextending overhanging portions 24. The side strips 23 have extensions 25 and 26 at their forward ends folded inwardly across the front and disposed in overlapping relationship, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, to provide an end wall which forms a part of the throat or guideway 2l in which the staple-driver 30 is adapted to reciprocate. Below the extensions 25 and 25, the ends of the side walls 6 of the arm 5 are bent inwardly to provide a pair of projections 28, see Figs. 4 and 6, which serve as abutment-s to limit the forward feeding movement of the staples S.

' 23 and its bottom wall welded to the under side of the arm 5. As shown in Figs'. 1 and 3, the under side of the bottom wall 32 of the housing 3|V is beveled at 34 to provide an inclined striking face at the end of the arm 5. The sides 33 of the housing 3l are bent or folded inwardly at the front in alinedwings 35 disposed in parallel lll relation to the forward face of Ythe extension 23 on the side wall 5 of the arm 5 with a space there-between which forms the throat or guide-l way 21 for the staple-driver 38. The inwardly- Vbent portions or wings 35 of the housing 3| are arranged with their edges spaced apart to provide a vertical slot 35 at the front of the magazine-arm 5. Below the upper edgs of the side walls 33 of the housing 3| the metal is slit to form two strips 31, see Fig. 4, which are'expanded outwardly to provide projecting detents serving to limit the swinging motion between the handle-member 2 and the magazine-arm 5 in the manner as later explained.

The feeding means for the fasteners S consists in afstaple-pusher 48 constructed and arranged to operate in the manner explained in my application, referred to above, from which-this application is divided. The forward end of the pusher 48 is adapted to engage against theV rearmost staple S of the series in the magazine 5 and a spring 4,5, maintained under compression in the arm 5, tends to Vslide the pusher forwardly to feed the staples to the driving means at the forward end of the arm 5.

, Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the upwardly-projecting lateral strips 23 and the sides of the housing 3| at the forward end of the magazine-arm 5 are formed at the top with alined slots 68 for receiving a pair of ears or lugs 69, see Fig. 5, which project outwardly from the sides of an angular step 18.V The step 18 forms a seat for a helical spring 15 acting to normally maintain the magazine-arm 5 swung downwardly with respect to the handle-member 2. The-downward swinging movement of the arm 5 is limited by the engagement of the detents 31 at the sides of theV housing 3|, see Figs. 4 and 5, with similar detents 13 projecting inwardly from the sides of the head 3 on the member 2. As shown in Fig. 1, the detents 13 are formed by slitting the sides ofV thehead 3sat 14 and expanding the metal inwardly at points therebelow. The upper end of the spring 15 is seated in a circular recess 16 indented into the lower face of a horizontal platemember 11. The plate 11 fits within the head 3 ofthe handle-member 2 abutting the under side of a secondary plate 18 which forms a rest 'for a block or pad 880i rubber bearing against the upper wall ofthe head. At its rearward end the plate 11 has a narrow lug 19 reaching outwardly through an aperture 8| at the rear of the head 3 and bent toA hook over the edge thereof. At the forward end of the plate 11 its edge is beveled at 82. The Vsecondary plate 18 has a Ypair of spaced lugs 83 bent downwardly over the beveled edge of the underlying plate 11 to hold the latter from moving forwardly. At the front of the head 2 is an aperture 85 through which an instrumentA such as a screw-driver may be inserted and twisted to pry up the forward end of Ythe secondary plate 18 as permitted by the resiliency of the rubber pad 88. The underlying plate 11 then may be pushed forward to release its lug 19 from the edge ofthe aperture 8| atthe rear of the head 3 so that the parts may be disassembled to remove the rubber pad 88 should its re- -placement be required. The rubber pad 88 provides a cushion to absorb the shock and jar on the parts when theimplement is operated to drive a fastener in the manner indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.Y The means for actuating the driver 38 are constructed and arranged as next described. j

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the driver 30 may be constructed from ahardened metal bar of substantially rectangular shape in cross-section and formed with a spline or key 38 projecting from its forward face. The key 38 engages through the opening or slot 36 between the edges of the inwardly-bent wings 35 at the forward Iend of the arm 5 with the main portion of the driver slidable in the throat 21 at the rear of the wings.

i At the top of the driver 38 is a forwardly-projecting rectangular lug 39 spaced from the upper end of the key 38 to provide an opening therebetween. The lower end of the driver 30 is formed with a recessed face 41 which is alined with the foremost staple S in the series in the magazine-arm Y5 f head 3 of the handle-member 2.

Y straddle the lug 39 to connect the driver 38 to the member 2. The upper end of the projection 9| forms arest for the forward end of the plate 11 as shown in Fig. 3. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be obvious that as the implement is held in the hand and its forward portion brought down against the work W the contact of the striking face 34 therewith will force the end of the arm 5 upwardly against the tension of the spring 15.

During this relative movement between the arm 5 and member 2 the bottom face of the projection 9| on the memberV 98 in the head 3'will engage the upper end of the driver 38 and force the latter downwardly to drive the staple S into the work. The method of operation of the complete implement is as next explained.

Y y.. the work.

A plurality of staples S attached together ina stick or rell may be loaded into the ,magazinel of the arm 5 in the mannerexplained in my copending application referred to above. The

spring 46 will force the pusher 48 forwardly and cause its forward wall to Vbring V'up againstl the strip of staples contained in the magazine. The spring 46 thus will act to advance the pusher'48 to slide the staples S forwardly until the foremost staple brings up against the projections orrabutments 28 forming the forward Wall of themagazine.

with the implement leaded it is ready for. me-

nipulation to drive the staples S successivelyinto Theflnger-grip 4 at the end of the arm 2 is grasped in the palm and the ngers of the hand and the implement wielded in the man'- ner of an ordinary hammer to strike'tle'beveledv face 34 at the forward end of the arm 5`against- Y Y the work W. As the end of the arm 5 is brought.V

down into contact With the work it will be Vswung 5.2. upwardly against the tension of the spring 15;` thereby causing the upper end of thedriver 303 to be engaged by the projection Qlf on thecontactmemberV 9E) to force the driver down against the head of the staple and drive it into the work. As the implement is lifted away from the work the spring 15 will swing the arm 5 downwardly relatively to the member 2, thereby causing the` staple-driver 3B to be slid upwardly in the throat' 21` by the engagement of its lug 39 with the projection 92' so as to raise its driving face 41 above the staples as shown in Fig. 2. As the stapledriver 30 is raised to this position the tension of the spring d'6 will advance the staple-pusher il!)` sufficiently to feed the whole series of staples S forwardly in the magazine to locate the next fore-` most one beneath the lew'er edge of the driver whereby the implement is prepared for another operation. It has been explained that the relative movement between the magazine-arm and handle-member 2 under the tension of the spring is limited by the engagement of the detents 31 and 13 shown in F'ig. 4. The implement may be operated continuously to drive the staples progressively therefrom and into the work until the supply in the magazine is exhausted.

It has been stated that the rubber block or pad 80 in the head 3 of the handlemember 2 is provided` to absorb the shock and jar on the parts of the implement. As thel forward end of the magazine-arm 5 makes contact with the work and compresses the spring 15 the rubber pad 80 will yield slightly to absorb the shock of the impact and thereby prevent crystallization of the spring 15 and the other elements of the device which would be liable to cause fracture thereof. In certain types of work the implement may be swung against relatively yieldable material, such as in tacking dewn carpeting or nailing in place fiber shingles, in which case the staple-driver may penetrate into the work causing the upper portion of the end of the arm 5 to make contact with the plate 11. Should this occur the rubber pad 6i! will serve as a buffer to absorb the shock of the impact.

It will be observed from the foregoing specification that the present invention provides im portant improvements in the construction of the various parts of a stapling implement of the type indicated. The improvement makes for more efficient operation of the implement while rendering it more economical to manufacture and proof against damage to or breakage of its parts. While the device is herein shown as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to be understood that modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

l. A fastener-applying implement of the type indicated comprising a handle-member having a hollow head at its end, a magazine-arm piv oted to said member to adapt said magazine-arm and handle-member to move relatively of each other, a guideway at the forward end of the magazine-arm, a driver slidable in said guideway, a pusher slidable in the magazine of the arm for progressively feeding the fasteners beneath the driver, means in the arm for advancing the pusher, and a plate-like member fastened within the end wall of the head on the handle-member and formed with spaced abutments projecting rearwardly therefrom for engagement by an abutment on the driver to effect reciprocation of the driver: when; the arm is swung relatively to` the handle-member.

2@ A fastener-applyingimplement.comprising al handle-member having a= head1' at one end', a

l magazine-arm pivoted to the handle-membert'o.` adapt said handle-member and magazine-armv tot swing relatively of eachother, a pusherl slidable in themagazine of the arm to feed the fasteners forwardly therein, means for advancing the pusher in the magazine, said magazine. having inwardly-projecting anges at.v its forward" end`V flanges overlying said flanges at the forward'` end'- of themagazine-arm to provide a vertical guideway therein, a driver slidable in said guideway,

and means for connecting the driver with the.

head of the handle-member to cause ittor reciprecate in said guideway when the handle-mem;- ber is swung relatively of the arm.

3l. A hammer-like fastener-applying implef ment comprising a handle-member having a head at its end, an arm connected to said handlemember to adapt said handle-member and arm to move relatively of each other upon contact of the arm with the work, a guideway at the end of said arm, a driver reciprocable. in said drive-A way, means on the head of the handl'e-merriberv engageable with the driver to reciprocate the latter upon relative movement between the armand handle-member, a resilient block on the head of the handle-member, and a spring tensioned between said block and the arm for resisting the relative movement between said arm and handlemember, said resilient block acting against the force of the spring to cushion the shock of impact when the arm makes contact with the work.

4. A fastener-applying implement comprising a handle-member provided with a hollow head at its end, a magazine-arm pivoted to the handle-` member to adapt its forward end to telescope within the head, a driver reciprocable at the end of the magazine-arm, a pusher for advancing fasteners in the magazine of the arm to feed them beneath the driver, means for advancing the pusher, means connecting the driver for recip rocation during the relative movement between the magazine-arm and the handle-member, a resilient block in the head of the handle-member, and a spring tensioned between said block and the forward end of the magazine-arm for resisting relative movement between said magazine-arm and handle-member.

5. A fastener-applying implement of the type indicated comprising a handle-member having a hollow head at one end, a magazine-arm pivoted to the handle-member to permit relative movement between said magazine-arm and handle-member, a pusher slidable in the magazine of the arm for feeding the fasteners forwardly therein, means for advancing the pusher in the magazine, a driver at the forward end of the magazine for driving the fasteners therefrom, means connecting the driver with the head of the handle-member to cause it to be reciprocated by the relative movement between the magazinearm and handle-member, a spring in the head of the handle-member acting on the magazinearm to normally maintain it below the head, and a resilient block in the head of the handle-mem ber for taking the thrust of the spring to absorb the shock of the impact when the end of the magazine-arm is struck against the work.

6. A fastener-applying implement comprising a hollow member formed of sheet-metal with a Vhollow head at one end and a handle at its opposite end, a magazine-arm formed of sheetmetal, means for pivoting the magazine-arm to the handle-member to adapt them to swing relatively of each other, a pusher slidable in the magazine of the arm for feeding the fasteners forwardly therein, a removable plate in the top of the head on the handle-member, a resilient blocksupported in the head by said plate, a spring acting between said plate and the forward end ofthe magazine-arm to resist relative swinging movement between said magazinearm and hollow head of the handle-member, and a driver slidable at the forward end of the arm and engageable with the head to cause it to be reciprocated when the handle-member and magazinearm are moved relatively of each other.

7. A fastener-applying implement comprising av handle-member having a hollow head at one end, a magazine-arm pivoted to said handler member to adapt them to swing relatively of each other, a resilient pad in the head of the handlemember, a plate underlying said pad and eX- tending across the head with lugs projecting downwardly from its forward end, a second plate underlying the first-named plate with its forward end engaged by the lugs of the rst-narned plate and formed with a hook engaging the edge of an aperture at the rear of the head, and a spring held under compression between said underlying plate and the end of the magazine-arm,

the forward portion oi the head having an aperture to permit the insertion of an instrument for'pryin'g up the rst-narned plate so that the underlying plate may be slid forward to release its hook from the aperture in the rear of the head.

8. A fastener-applying implement comprising a handle-member having ahead at one end, a magazine-arm pivoted to the handle-member to adapt them to swing relatively of each other, a pusher slidable in the magazine of the arm to feed the fasteners forwardly therein, means for advancing the pusher in the magazine, said magazine having inturned flanges at its end for limiting the eeding movement of the fasteners, a

hollow housing enclosing the forward end of the magazine-arm and provided withlanges'overlying said flanges at the end of the magazine to provide a vertical guideway therein, said housing having alined slots in its side walls, a driver slidable in said guideway, means for connecting the driver with the head of the handle-member to cause it to reciprocate in the guideway when l the handle-member is swung relatively of said magazine-arm, an angular step-member having laterally-projecting lugs at its sides engaging lthe slots in the sides of the housing, and a spring seated on said step-member and held under compression in the head to normally maintain the# arm depressed with respect to said handle-member. Y

9. A fastener-applying implement of the type indicated comprising a sheet-metal handle-member formed with a hollow head projecting above its forward end, a magazine-arm pivoted to said handle-member to permit relative movement therebetween, a guideway at the forward end of the v magazine-arm, a driver-blade rslidable in said guideway and formed with an integral abutment projecting forwardly therefrom, means in the magazine for progressively feeding the fasteners forwardly in the magazine to advance them into position beneath the driver, and a plate fastened to the forward wall of the hollow head on the handle-member and formed with integral spaced lugs projecting rearwardly there-V from for engaging the lug on the driver in the space therebetween.

CHARLES M. LINDSTROM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: y

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,166,190 Dawson Dec. 28, 1915 1,671,733 .Maynard May 29, 1928 1,688,879 Polzer Oct. 23, 1928 1,709,756 Szepe Apr. 16, 1929 2,425,494: Taylor Aug. 12, 1947 

